Real Madrid's Injury Updates Ahead of Betis Clash
Real Madrid head to Seville on Friday with their record spotless, their confidence soaring and their squad… still a little patched up.
Three games, three wins, 10 goals scored, none conceded. The 4-0 dismantling of Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday underlined the early-season mood: Jude Bellingham dictating, Kylian Mbappe ruthless, Arda Guler gliding through defences. It was as comfortable as it sounded.
Yet as they prepare for Real Betis, who were ripped open 5-2 by Levante after starting with back-to-back victories, Jose Mourinho’s team sheet is still shaped by the medical room.
Tchouameni close, but Mourinho won’t gamble
Aurelien Tchouameni has yet to kick a ball this season. A muscle injury has kept the French midfielder sidelined, but his return is edging closer.
He is listed as a minor doubt for the trip to Betis, with a possible return pencilled in for September 4. The staff are encouraged by his progress, but Mourinho is refusing to rush him. With a long campaign ahead and Real Madrid already in full control of their early fixtures, the coach is wary of risking a setback for one of his key structural pieces in midfield.
Endrick edging towards his first taste of La Liga
Endrick is in a similar bracket: close, but not guaranteed.
The Brazilian forward has missed the opening three league games with a muscular problem. Now there is a realistic chance he makes a matchday squad for the first time this season against Betis.
His inclusion, even from the bench, would add another explosive option to an attack already humming with Mbappe, Bellingham and Guler. For now, his status remains “minor doubt”, but the door is finally opening.
Militao’s wait goes on
At the back, Eder Militao’s absence continues to cast a shadow.
The defender has been out since suffering a hamstring injury against Alaves on April 21. The recovery is moving in the right direction, but the timeline is still not immediate. He is unlikely to feature before the first international break of the season, leaving Mourinho to lean again on his remaining centre-back options.
Rodrygo ruled out long term
The news is far more brutal for Rodrygo.
The Brazilian forward faces a long spell on the sidelines after a serious knee injury sustained in March. Current expectations are that he will not return until the early stages of 2027, removing one of Madrid’s most versatile attacking weapons from Mourinho’s plans for the foreseeable future.
Asencio hit by fresh leg issue
Raul Asencio’s situation has taken a frustrating turn.
The defender, who had been linked with a summer exit, missed the start of the campaign with a quadricep problem. He has recovered from that setback, only to suffer a separate issue in the same leg.
Medical staff now fear he may require surgery, which would mean another six to eight weeks of rehabilitation. For a player already battling for a place in the squad, the timing could hardly be worse.
Mendy sidelined until late 2026
On the left side of defence, Ferland Mendy is a long-term absentee.
A thigh injury has ruled him out of contention for the foreseeable future, with the expectation that he will not return to the first-team picture until the latter stages of 2026. That forces Madrid to keep improvising down the flank and reshaping their back line as the fixtures pile up.
Pitarch back on the grass, but no date yet
Thiago Pitarch’s pre-season barely started before it collapsed.
The midfielder suffered a knee injury in the very first training session of the summer. He is now back working with the ball on the training pitch, an important step forward, but there is still no clear indication of when he will be ready for competitive action.
For Mourinho, Pitarch remains an option for later in the season, not for the heat of an away trip to Betis.
No suspensions for Mourinho to juggle
One area brings clarity: discipline.
Real Madrid have no players suspended for Friday’s La Liga fixture. Any absences in Seville will come down purely to fitness and caution, not cards.
So Madrid arrive unbeaten, unbreached and brimming with attacking form, yet still waiting for key pieces to return. If this is how they look at less than full strength, what happens when the treatment room finally empties?
